Coin dispensing machine



R. J. LABBE COIN DISPENSING MACHINE VJumiy-A 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filaduan. 15, 1951 ROY J. LABBE ATTORNEYS R. J. LA'BBE rcom nrspEugmc magma July 7, 1953 Filed Jan. 15. 1951 Huelma.

RQY J. I LABBE l may@ ATTORNEYS Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE e 2,644,470 l l ycom msrENsING Meermin Ray '.I. Labba Baltimora, Ma. Application January 15, 1951, serial No. 206,110

zolaims. (or. 13s- 5) This inventionk relates to acoin: dispensing machine, and more particularly to'a machine which automatically stacks coins of a given -denomination', after which the coinsmay be removed rom the machine'in measured quantities.

Briefly, the invention includes a hopper, the

bottom of-"which isformed with a rotating disc having aseries of openings adjacent the periphery, thediameter of the 'openings being slightly larger than the diameter of the coins being dispensed. Y A bed plateV is rpositioned beneath the rotating disc which, with the walls of the openings, form pocketsinto which the coins fall as the discrotate's.' The bed plate is provided with an opening, in the vicinity of its periphery, through which the coins fallas the openings in the disc pass thereover, when the disc is rotated.

A tube is positioned beneath the bed plate in register with the opening therein, and the coins passing thru the opening in the bed plate drop into this tube. Dispensingmechanismis provided at the lower end oi the tube so that coins may be removed from the tube in measured quantities. Control 'mechanism is also associated with the tube forautomatically lling the tube Whenever coins are dispensed. y

An object of my invention is to provide an improved coin dispensing machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved machine for automatically stacking coins of like denomination.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an vimproved machine for stacking and dispensing coins of the same'denomination, wherein the coinsmay'be removedvfrom the machine in measured quantities.

V'Still another object of my invention is to provide a coin dispensing machine'having improved control means associated therewith, whereby the supply of stacked coins is automatically replenished,` if coins are available for stacking, whenever a measured quantity of coins is dispensed.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved coin stacking and dispensing machine which may be easily and quickly operated by the user to eiiiciently andaccurately dispense v coins. f

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a coin stacking and dispensing .machine which is strong and sturdy in construction, consisting of relatively-few parts,` andV not liable to Vget out of order even after longand-continuous use. 1

`With these and other objects in view, which Ymay be incident to vmy improvements, theinvenltionconsists in the parts and combinations to be appended claims.

In order to make my invention moreeclearly e understood,` -I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying thesame into Ipractical eiect,without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to theA particular constructions, which-for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

lin the accompanying drawings, in which is shown onel ofthe various possible embodiments of this invention; Y v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine.A

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 24-.2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a staggered vertical sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on linev ll--d of Fig. 2,; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line k5 5 of Fig. 3-

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the several views of the drawings.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain featuresV of the deviceof the present invention, it might here be pointed out that in establishments having coinv operated machines, there is aconstant demand for. coins of proper denomination,f and more particularly nickels, by the persons playing these machines. As a rule, some person inthe establishment, in addition to waitling'oirclistomers and v"other duties, is charged with the responsibility of making change to supply the playerswith nickels. Generally, the nickels arekept in a bag or other container and the person making change must count out thenickels during each change transaction, which is a burdensome and timeconsuming operation. Furthermore, it will ber appreciatedthat, as a general rule, the demands for change rise sharply as the number of 'patrons in an establishment increases. 'Thus,' as play of the coin machines increases, the personcharged with making change must devote more time to these transactions, when, in fact, heshould be giving more time and attention tohis other duties.` Accordingly, one ofV the important `features of the present invention is to provide a'machine which will reduce the time required for making change to -a minimum. Y

Referring now to the drawing, the mechanism of the machine is enclosed by a housing generally indicated at I0, which includes a top I I (Fig. l), a front wall I2, a rear wall I3, side Walls I4 and I5, and a bottom or base I 6. The front, back and side walls I2, I3, I4 and I5 are detachably secured to base I3 by means of screws or other suitable fastening means I1, thus permitting the housing to be removed from the base I6, for purposes of inspection or repair of the mechanism normally enclosed by the housing.

The mechanism of the machine is mounted on the base I6 (Figs. 2 and 4) by means of a framework which includes three vertical supports I8, i9 and 2B, and a platform 2l, the vertical supports being secured to the base and to the platform in any suitable manner as by screws, or other fastening means. It will be noted that the platform (Fig. 2) is inclined at an angle of approximately 33 with respect to the horizontal. A hopper, indicated generally by numeral 24, is mounted on the platform 2 I, and includes a circular shaped base 23 (Fig. 3) secured to the platform. The inner wall of the hopper is formed by a sheet metal member which includes a cylindrically shaped top portion 24a (Figs. 1 and 2), having its axis vertically positioned with respect to the horizontal, and a cylindrically shaped lower'portion 24h (Figs. 3 and 4), having its axis perpendicular to the plane of the platform 2I. The lower edge portion of member 24a and the upper edge portion of member 24h are connected in any suitable manner such as by soldering. To reinforce portion 24h of the hopper wall a pair of cylindrically shaped sheet metal members 25 and 23 are provided. These members are arranged in telescopic relationship with respect to each other and to portion 24b of the hopper wall, and are secured to the hopper wall by means of bolts 21 (Fig. 2). It will be noted'that the lower edge of portion 24h (Fig. 3) and of the reinforcing member 25 terminate adjacent the upper surface of the base 23, but that the lower edge of reinforcing member 26 extends downwardly over the edge of the base. This permits the lower portion of member 26, and thus thewhole hopper, to be secured to base 23 by means of screws 28.

The bottom of the hopper is formed by a circular plate 29 secured to base 23, and a rotatable disc 3D, having a plurality of circular openings 3I, the diameters of which are slightly greater `than the diameter of a nickel. The thickness of disc 33 is slightly greater than the thickness of a nickel, and thus each opening, when considered in combination with plate 29, forms a pocket adapted to receive a nickel. The disc 35 is Dro- -vided with a hub 33 riveted to the center of the disc by rivets 34, the hub 33 extending downwardly through an opening 35 in plate 29, and into a recess 36 in base 23. A shaft 31 is connected to hub 33 in any suitable manner such as welding, and provides means through which disc 30 is driven by a motor 38.

The motor 38 (Fig. 2) is mounted on a U- -shaped bracket 39 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is attached to the bottom of platform 2l by means of screws 40. The shaft 4I of motor 38 is connected to suitable gear reduction mechanism (not shown) contained within the motor housing, and the shaft of the gear reduction mecha- Ynism is connected to the shaft 31 by means of a coupling 42. The lower end of the motor shaft 4I is provided with a fan 4|a, adapted to circulate air within housing I3.

When the machine is in use, the motor 38 drives disc 30, and the coins in the hopper fall into the openings 3l and are carried by the disc in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, to an opening 43 in plate 29. To prevent the coins, which are to be stacked, from jamming the opening 43, a shield or partition member 44 is provided (Figs. 3 and 4). The shield or partition member extends from-the upper surface of disc 30 to the top of the hopper, and is held in position by a bracket 45 attached to the top I I of the housing, and by having its flanged ends 44a, and 44h soldered to the side wall of the hopper. The shield prevents the coins from entering the section of the hopper containing opening 43 unless they are carried to the opening when positioned in one of the openings in disc 36. It has been found that the coins are not always correctly positioned in openings 3l and to prevent such coins from jamming the mechanism, if permitted to come into'contact with shield 44, a brush or deector member 49 (Figs. 3 and 4) is mounted on the hopper wall by a bracket 41. This brush is constructed andarranged to properly position the coins so that `the lowermost faces thereof engage plate 29.

The base 23 of the hopper, and the inclined platform 2| upon which the hopper is supported, are provided with oval shaped openings 41 and 48, respectively, which openings are aligned with the opening 43 of the plate 29. Attached to the underside of the platform 2| by rneansof brackets 49 and 53, suitably secured to the platform by screws 5I (Fig. 2), is a funnel shaped housing 52, having its outlet portion arranged in telescopic relationship with a coin stacking tube 53. It is to be particularly noted that the minor diameters of the oval shaped openings 41 and 48 are greater than the diameters of the coins to be stacked, that is to say, of greater diameter than a nickel, and accordingly, the size and shape of these openings insure that each coin delivered to the opening 43 of plate 29 will pass into the funnel 52, and thence to the stacking tube.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be noted that the lower end of the stacking tube 53 extends through and is supported by an L-shaped bracket, generally indicated by numeral 55, which ncludes a vertical portion 55a and a horizontal portion 55h. The vertical portion is secured to the base I6 by means of screws 56, and the horizontal portion is attached to portion 55a by screws 51. Additional support for the horizontal portion 55h is provided by an angle bar 63, which is attached to said portion by screws 64, the angle bar being connected at its ends tothe vertical framework support I9 and to a bar 65, havings its end portions attached to the framework supports I8 and 20. The lower end of the stacking tube 53 extends through an opening 59 formed in portion 5512 and is connected thereto by means of a bracket 6I) and a clamp 6I, adapted to be drawn into clamping engagement with the tube by means of a threaded bolt 6| a and nut SIb.

The mechanism, used to dispense coins which have been stacked in the tube 53, indicated generally by numeral 66 (Fig. 3), is mounted on portion 55h of the support 55 and includes a U- shaped metal bracket B1, the legs of which are connected to portion 55h by suitable screws 63. This bracket forms a support and a guide for a slide 16 which is movable longitudinally of portion 55h. The slide 10 is formed with an opening 1 I, which is of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of a nickel, and a spring 12 is'prothe slide 'l0 is in engagement with stop I3, open-K.

ingY lifis' in register with'thelower end or the tube, so' lthat the coins passing downthe `tube enter they opening 1|, the lowermost coin ven gaging the bottom 'of the'bracket 61. Preferably,

the thicknessl of slidel is equal to the thickness of ve stacked nickels.l l v To dispense coins, the operator reaches in thru opening 'l5 (Fig. l) in the front of the housing it, and by means cfa `ngerpfiece lgQFiggyw moves the slide 'lil to theleft against the bias-of spring 12, until the end of the slide engages a stop ll. At this time the bottom of opening 'H clears the bracket 6l, and the coins fall into the hand of the operator. The coins stacked in tube 53 above slide VWare held in the tube by the top of the slide.

To automatically refill tube 53, when coins aredispensed, a pair of'switches 80 and 8i are provided. These switches are in parallel with the circuit of the motor 38, and thus the motor will continue to operate until both switches are opened. The switches S and 8i, include nose portions 83a and 8 la. which extend through openings 53a and i'z3b formed in the tube 53. When the tube is being lled with nickels, the stack of coins first act. on no-se portion Sla of switch 8i rto open contact points lb, and next acts. on

nose portion Sea of switch 80 to open contact points 30o, thereby breaking the circuit to motor 38 so that no more'coins are fed into tube 53 by disc 30. It will be noted that the nose portion 30a is positioned above nose portion Sla, and accordingly, both switches to the motor are open, only when the tube is lled with coins. In other words, by means of the staggered arrangement of the switches, intermittent breaking of the motor circuit, rby a single coin passing the nose portions in succession, is thereby prevented. The above described positioning o the switches thus provides for smooth continuous operation of the motor during the time the coins are being stacked.

The front of the machine is provided with a vsignal light 90 (Fig. 1), operatively connected in vthe hopper is empty. If the light stays on for an extended period of time, the attendant is thereby warned that the hopper is empty and should be relled. A switch 9|,is provided on housing [I0 'to control the supply ofY current to the machine. f

In operation, the attendant lls the hopper 24 with coins which are fedy from the hopper to tube 53 by the disc 30. The inclination of the bottom of the hopper is such as to cause the coins to slide downwardly against the wall of the hopper and in a position to seat in the openings formed in the rotatable disc, and thence fed to the stacking tube. When the tube 53 becomes filled with coins the motor 38 stops. The attendant then may dispense coins into the palm of his hand, by means of the slide l0, receiving ve nickels each time he actuates the slide. As soon as coins are removed from the tube, the .motor again starts and rells tube 53.

With reference to the inclination of Vthe bottom of the hopper, it has been found, after considerable research and experimentation, that the most eilicient distribution of the coins within enligne the hopper, that-is to say, desired movement of" thecoins "to seated positions in the openings ofv the rotatable disc, is obtained when the bottom` of the hopper is-inclined at an angle of approximately 30 with respect to thev horizontal. At this 'particular angle, namely, 30 or substantially`30, thecoins slide downwardly, under theinfluence of gravity, and collect in avcomparatively loose, well distributed pile or stack against'the wall of the hopper. As the disc rotates, the coins at the bottom of the pile move along in the direction of rotation of the disc, and those which Y do not lbecome seated in the openings therein, tumble Aback into the pile.

If the slope of the hopper is 'greater than sub-. stantially 30, the -coins tend to stack in a rather compact mass along the side of the hopper, and if the slope is less than approximately 30 the coins fail to accumulate in the required position to be transferred by the disc to the discharge opening which leads to the stacking tube. As above indicated, at an angle* of approximately 30, the coins fed to the hopper readily seat in the openings `in the disc, when the disc is rotated, andthe stacking tube becomes filled with coins in minimum time.

While the machine has been described as electrically driven, it is'to be understood that the present invention comprehends the use of other driven means, for example, a hand driven arrangement for rotating the coin distributing disc may be used.

What I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not conne myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin dispensing machine, in combination, a hopper, a dispensing tube positioned below the hopper, a rotatable disc mounted on the bottom of said hopper, said disc having openings therein slightly larger than `the diameter of the coins being dispensed, the openings in the disc feeding coins to the upper end of said tube, an electric motor for driving the disc, a pair'of switches mounted on said tube, each of said switches including nose portions extending intoy the tube, said nose portions being. vertically spaced, with respect to each other, the switchesl switches to move thel same to open positions f when coins stacked in said tube reach the level of each nose portion, and means for dispensing coins from the lower end of the tube.

2. In a coin dispensing machine, in combination, a hopper including a base, the base of said vhopper being inclined at an angle of approxi- A, mately 30 with respect to the horizontal, a rotatable disc mounted on the bottom of said hopper, said disc having ra plurality of openings in the motor circuit, the circuit'to said motor being broken when both of the switches are in,

open position, said switches including nose portions extending into the dispensing tube, said nose portions being vertically spaced with respect at each other, whereby the coins in said tube open said switches successively when the stacked coins in said tube reach the level of each nose portion, means for preventing coins other than References Cited in the le of this' patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number the coins seated in said openings in the disc from 10 Number Name Date Bock Apr. 23, 1912 Johnson May 12, 1914 Schwartz Mar. 15, 1932 Myers Mar. 27, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Feb. 14, 1940 Great Britain July 18, 1940 

